101 Things I Wish I’d known before Moving to Australia

Sooo...you think you have what it takes to live in the land of man-eating sharks, venomous snakes, and spiders so big they wear kneepads to crawl up the walls...

Like many thousands before you, you may be filled with excitement about heading halfway across the world on a new adventure.

However, things can work differently here...

So instead of learning the hard way, here are some things I learned along the way on my work and travel holiday in Oz that should help you out!

Read on....

1. Get a visa!

Don’t attempt to fly to Australia without the proper visa…you probably won’t even make it on the flight! If you meet the criteria, getting a working holiday visa is easy. You can find out more about getting your Oz working holiday visa here.

2. Money money money.

Make sure you budget accurately for your trip!

Australia is an expensive place, especially in cities like Sydney and Melbourne, and if you’re not working, you need to save every cent so make sure you have at least AU$5,000 to survive a few months without work.

Check out our infographic on average basic costs here:

3. Don't get cut off!

Inform your bank of your travel plans before you leave. You don’t want them to cancel your credit cards while you’re on holiday. This happened to me (not fun).

11. Make sure you have enough cash for 6-8 weeks rent as many rental properties require 4 weeks deposit as well as a monthly payment in advance.

They will also ask for references so bring these with you from your job or previous landlord.

12. Australian apartments typically come unfurnished but there are different degrees of this, so ask the landlord to clarify this:

Completely unfurnished (very little or no furniture and appliances)

Unfurnished (appliances with little or no furniture)

Furnished (appliances and furniture)

13. You CAN get fully furnished apartments, although rent will be more expensive.

Finding cheap furniture in Oz is really easy, just go on Gumtree or browse in any of the amazing charity shops that sell couches, chairs, appliances, etc.

14. ‘’Hard Rubbish Day’’ is when Australians leave out unwanted items like appliances and furniture outside their homes for people to take-so you might just pick up some free stuff this way.

Check your local city council website for details on the date.

15. If you go through an estate agent, you’ll have to provide a reference and evidence of income.

If you break the lease, you’ll be charged for every single day that you don’t have someone to replace you and sometimes you’ll be asked to pay for advertising fees, so think carefully how long you want to stay before you sign a contract.

16. Depending on where you go and the time of year, it will be more or less difficult to find an apartment.

We had no trouble in Melbourne but Sydney is another story. Set up alerts with estate agents and realestate.com.au. Be prepared to stay in a hostel for longer than you imagined.

17. If you want to live in one place for a while, consider:

Melbourne for great food, art, music and jobs

Sydney for an active nightlife and great beaches

Perth for soaring temperatures and a laid-back lifestyle

Cairns for crocodiles, watersports, and the backpacker lifestyle

Brisbane for the tropical temperatures, sports, and city-life all in one

Darwin for heat, jobs and a melting pot of cultures

18. I recommend getting an apartment with air conditioning.

There is nothing more unpleasant than trying to sleep when it’s 42 degrees…that's true even for cities down south like Melbourne, which gets ridiculously hot in the summer. 42C is no joke!

19. Research jobs in Oz before you leave.

Australia may have a good economy, but it might not be as easy to get a job as you think. If you’re on a working holiday visa, you’ll be restricted to 6 months with each employer so planning what you want to do will save time. Make sure your employer is registered as a working holidaymaker employer so you get taxed at the correct rate. Read these tips.

20. Search for jobs on Gumtree and seek.com.au.

Make sure you do an Australian version of your CV as well as a good Australian Cover letter, which is more detailed than you might think. Here are some tips!

26. You COULD save cash if you buy a car that runs on liquefied gas or compressed natural gas.

It’s super cooled and cheaper than petrol. Just be aware they won’t dispense gas when it reaches ridiculously high temperatures. Cars in Australia are usually big and have large engines that guzzle up petrol.

27. If you’re renting a car, make sure you get the FULL insurance.

I have friends who forked out $$$$ after their rental car hit a kangaroo and they hadn’t opted for the insurance.

28. Be watchful of the speed limits.

Australian fines for speeding run into the hundreds of dollars so don’t be a Speedy Gonzalez. You’ll even be fined for driving too slow on some of the major roads!

29. Remember that Australia is a BIG country so fuel-up on your roadtrip, unless you want to spend the night on the side of the road thinking you might meet the same fate as the victims in Wolf Creek.

It's not very likely you'll become the victim of a serial killer, but it could be aaaaages before another car passes to help you!

30. And make sure you have a spare tyre as you could be 100's of miles from the nearest garage!

31. In most cases, 3rd party car insurance is included in your car registration fees.

32. In most states, you can drive with an overseas license as long as it's current (except the Northern Territory).

33. Australians have shortened versions of many words. Don’t be surprised if they attempt to shorten your name too.

Examples:

Arvo-Afternoon

Tradie-Tradesman

Barbie-Barbeque

Firey-Fireman

Doco-Documentary

Maccas-McDonalds

Footy-Football

Tinny-Beer sold in cans

Postie-Postman

34. In Melbourne, the weather can change by 10 degrees in the space of an hour-think 4 seasons in one day!

It’s cold in the winter but the summer can get extremely hot. It was 41 degrees for a week in February and we baked.

35. The coffee in Australia is amazing so enjoy! Being a barista is a serious profession in Australia.

36. Don’t expect all surfing and tanning in Melbourne as there is very much a ‘hipster’ vibe, so if you’re pale like me, you’ll probably fit right in!

37. The spiders are HUGE. Just make sure you check your shoes and shake out any towels before use. They are usually harmless, so don’t overreact.

38. Kangaroos and wallabies are everywhere in the more rural areas.

They are usually harmless, although you should avoid driving at night as your car will come out very much the worse for wear if you hit a kangaroo.

39. Australia is still very behind when it comes to free Wi-Fi, so you’ll have to pay for it in many hotels and hostels around the country.

Annoyingly too, the checkout time for hotels is typically 10am.

40. If you’re going to the outback and want a working phone, then Telstra is your only option!

41. If you’re taking a long roadtrip, make sure you bring some travel guides and paper maps as there are blackout spots for phones.

A good GPS is worth the investment but get a paper map in case the technology fails.

42. Regional work can be both super tough and very rewarding.

If you want your 2nd year visa, then you should try and get your 3 months regional work done immediately.

43. Gumtree is a good place to find regional work, just make sure you’re looking for work in eligible postcodes!

70. Experience as MUCH AS YOU CAN!

Surfing, diving, skydiving! Enter our Australian competitions here to see if you can do them for free.

71. Take lots of pics on your journey and follow us on Instagram for some inspiration.

72. Don’t worry too much about sharks!

It’s highly unlikely you’ll get bit and you probably won't see one unless you go shark watching/swimming or cage diving. You should instead watch out for any dangerous currents, stick to beaches with lifeguards, and don't go too far from the shore.

73. In New South Wales, there are about 51 shark netted beaches.

Shark nets are in use to reduce the number of sharks in the area. Unfortunately they result in other fish dying too and threaten turtles, dolphins and whales.

74. Some tips for lowering your chances of being accidentally bitten include:

Don’t go into the water at dusk or dawn

Be wary of areas frequented by birds and porpoises

Don’t wear shiny jewellery underwater

Avoid sandbars and fish drop-offs

Respect the water at all times, it’s the shark’s territory, not yours!

And don’t worry! You’ve more chances of being hit by lightning than being killed by a shark.

77. Signs, signs, signs!

Watch out for signs near rivers, lakes and beaches. You don’t want to wade into a river only to find that Big Al the crocodile hasn’t had his lunch yet!

You should wear stinger suits in the water at places such as the Barrier Reef and Whitsundays from November to May as there is a higher risk of jellyfish at these times. Some jellyfish can make you feel very ill if they sting you, others, like the Box Jellyfish, can kill you in as little as 3 minutes.

78. If you need to fly to remote areas like Cooper Pedy or Kangaroo Island, then check out Rex Airlines.

79. Sleep under the stars!

You can camp for free or at a low cost in many of Australia’s National Parks and some of them have designated camping spots. You can check out exploreaustralia.net.au for listings.

80. If you’re looking for food on a budget, then check out local surf clubs or bowling clubs for cheap food.

Asian food is of a high standard and typically the cheapest type of food you can get. 4 or 5 dim sums will set you back just a few dollars and many of the Asian restaurants are BYO.

83. Cook a barbie! Australians love a good BBQ and many local parks have free facilities you can just go in and use.

84. Enjoy some free sightseeing by taking a coastal walk that won’t cost you a cent.

85. In Australia we drive on the left!

86. There are plenty of drive-thru bottle shops-yay!

87. If you’re looking for very fashionable clothes at the high street stores then don’t bother!

The clothes are expensive and not that great. Second-hand, vintage, and charity shops all have great finds and wealthy Australians often use them to get rid of last season’s fashions so you’ll be able to snaffle up some bargains for a few dollars.

You can get your undies and swimwear at the cheap and cheerful Target!

88. Get health insurance!

Even though some countries such as Ireland have reciprocal agreements with Australia to provide urgent care for free, ambulance fees are not included and are insanely expensive.

89. Cigarettes are crazy expensive, come in frighteningly graphic boxes, and there are many places where it’s not acceptable to light up-the perfect incentive to give up!

90. Don’t forget Tasmania, it has a fascinating history and you’ll get to meet the Tasmanian Devil.

You should also check out the haunting but fascinating convict colony of Port Arthur.

91. If you’re going as far as Australia, you should really consider visiting New Zealand.

You should have a return flight booked if you plan to go to NZ and it’s just 3 hours on a plane from Melbourne to Christchurch.

92. If you like wine, then go on a wine tasting tour, they aren’t cheap but you’ll have an expert guide.

Usually lunch is included and you’ll get to try a LOT of wine.

You’ll also get discounts for any you buy on the tour. The Yarra Wine Valley is particularly stunning.

93. Don’t forget to do your tax return!

94. For more news of Australia and great competitions, like Taxback.com on Facebook!

95. Have fun, don’t be afraid to spend money and have your trip of a lifetime!

96. Remember, Australia is a continent, so give yourself plenty of time to see and do everything you want!

97. Seasons in Australia:

Spring: September – November (nice!)

Summer: December – February (hot stuff)

Autumn: March – May (lovely)

Winter: June – August (cool, but not really cold)

98. As it's such a huge country, the weather varies between states. August is a good time to visit Cairns as the temperature hovers around a nice 26 degrees and you're avoiding the school holidays. The best time to go to Sydney is around late Sept to early Dec and late Feb to April.

99. You can ski in Australia.

There are a few resorts in New South Whales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory. Perisher is Australia's biggest ski resort.

100. A trip to Australia is the perfect excuse to get in shape.

Australians love to work out and one of the easiest ways is to try surfing or just go for a jog in the local park-they've got the weather for it and you probably won't be too far from a running track. The gym is very popular with Aussies, but I chose the outdoors. Just make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen and a hat is advisable!

101. Don't be afraid to meet new people!

Hostels and tours are great ways to meet other people, especially if you're travelling alone. Meetup Groups are also big in Australia, so if you're missing your friends back home, why not give it a try!